Media Blaster - keeps plugging

[GarageDreamer]

Ok.. this may be a stupid question but I wanted to double check my assumption ..

Can the lack of a moisture filter on a air compressor clog up a blaster? Mine keeps clogging with glass beads and sand mixture.

its a Northern Tool model so I'm wonder if its operator error or equipment error. I picked it up used and it worked well before I bought it, but I seem to be having issues with it since return home with it.

Thanks in advance..

 

[g935cab]

moisture bad for sand blasters , get a good dryer and all should be good ~G

 

[Brad54]

Don't take this the wrong way, because I worked with a bunch of guys at my last job that should have known better...
Are you degreasing the parts before you put them in the blaster? I was amazed that people at work were taking 35 year old control arms, caked with grease and ****, and putting them in the blast cabinet and going to town.
Paint, rust, light grime in the blast cabinet. All else in the parts washer, or scraped off over a garbage can.

-Brad

 

[buening]

Rust flakes and others can plug it up too. Is this a cabinet or a suction/pressure tank type? Are you using the filter screen when you refill it with media? For suction type blasters, you can put your finger (while wearing gloves...obviously) over the tip and press the trigger. This will backfeed the media supply line with air and will normally unplug it. Granted, whatever caused it to plug up will eventually come back into the line again but it beats taking the tip off every 5-10 minutes to unplug it. Do not do this if it is a pressure type blaster. Suction type will have the air line and a separate media line at the gun.

 

[GarageDreamer]

Rust flakes and others can plug it up too. Is this a cabinet or a suction/pressure tank type? Are you using the filter screen when you refill it with media? For suction type blasters, you can put your finger (while wearing gloves...obviously) over the tip and press the trigger. This will backfeed the media supply line with air and will normally unplug it. Granted, whatever caused it to plug up will eventually come back into the line again but it beats taking the tip off every 5-10 minutes to unplug it. Do not do this if it is a pressure type blaster. Suction type will have the air line and a separate media line at the gun.

Thanks .. I have a suction type based on your description.. and I was using new glass beads that plugged up within five min. My guess from the other posts is that its the mositure... thans

 

[GarageDreamer]

Don't take this the wrong way, because I worked with a bunch of guys at my last job that should have known better...
Are you degreasing the parts before you put them in the blaster? I was amazed that people at work were taking 35 year old control arms, caked with grease and ****, and putting them in the blast cabinet and going to town.
Paint, rust, light grime in the blast cabinet. All else in the parts washer, or scraped off over a garbage can.

-Brad

Thanks for the reminder... but I was making sure I was putting clean / none greasy parts. The parts have been thru the parts washer and the stripper tank before going to the media blaster...

 

[GarageDreamer]

moisture bad for sand blasters , get a good dryer and all should be good ~G

Thanks.. I'll go that direction..